Hiring: USI Student Mental Health Project Manager

STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT MANAGER

Pilot – 9-months initially, with a view to roll-out for a longer period.

Job Title: Student Mental Health Project Manager

Salary €35,000 p/r

Responsible to General Manager

Place of Work Dublin (with work in educational institutions across Ireland)

Hours of work 37 hours per week – Monday to Friday

Period of Contract Initially fixed term for 9 months with a view to roll-out after initial report.

Additional Hours The post holder will also be required to work occasional evenings and / or weekends to meet organisational objectives. In appropriate circumstances a time-off-in-lieu system will operate.

Background to USI:

USI is the national representative body for 354,000 students in third-level education on the Island of Ireland. We are a membership organisation – our members are our affiliated Students’ Unions around Ireland, North and South. USI is a democratic organisation. The supreme authority of the Union is the Congress, which is representative of each affiliated students’ union, apportioned according to the size of the student body in each union. Each union also sends one voting member to the National Council – the executive body of the organisation. We work across Ireland to represent the views and needs of all students at all levels including to government.

We support our member student unions in a range of activities including programmes and campaigns in the areas of education, welfare and equality. Our team of seven full-time and one part-time elected officer are supported to carry out their duties by a small team of six staff.

ROLE

• Acting alongside a USI officer as co-project manager of the USI “Chats for Change” campaign and related initiatives;

• Supporting and co-ordinating activities and support for member organisations in the area of youth mental health with a focus on third-level institutions;

• Liaising with the Department of Health to support the development of national policy in the area of youth mental health with focus on third-level institutions;

• Provide training for staff and students;

• The promotion of mental health awareness as part of induction for students and liaise with third-level institutions.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage strategic promotional activities, including social media, relating to the “Chats for Change” campaign;

• Design, organise, and conduct relevant research on youth mental health with focus on third-level institutions across Ireland, With reference to Connecting For Life, Youth Mental Health Taskforce 19-25 SubGroup, Vision for Change, and Mental Health Matters: Mapping Best Practices in Higher Education organising and supporting the development of strategic and operational activities in the area of youth mental health with focus on third-level institutions;

• Provide advice and support to our network of student officers in helping students and staff identify and reduce crisis in youth mental health with focus on third-level institutions; Tackling • Liaise with the Department of Health in the development of policy on youth mental health with focus on third-level institutions under the rubric of the Connecting for Life;

• Work with relevant authorised stakeholders to improve youth mental health with focus on third-level institutions;

• Contribute to the development of a range of written resources, policy papers, guidance materials and publications;

• Identify and undertake necessary duties and activities to deliver the role’s responsibilities;

• Carry out other duties and activities as may reasonably be required in order to support colleagues in achieving shared goals;

• Actively engage in individual and team professional development activities;

• Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a resource-efficient manner;

• Adhere to USI policies and practices, and actively support and promote USI vision, mission, and objectives.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Essential Criteria:

Degree or equivalent in community development, research,youth work or in a relevant health, education or social sector discipline.

Minimum of two years’ experience in developing and implementing programmes relevant to the youth and community sector.

Experience of working with young people and community groups in a community setting.

Passion for enabling youth participation.

Strong presentation, communication and group facilitation skills.

Desirable Criteria:

Experience of working in a collaborative manner across multiple agencies and sectors.

Knowledge of theory and practice in youth and community work.

Knowledge of the mental health sector in Ireland

Experience of planning and evaluating projects

Familiarity with local services for young people e.g. education, health, community and voluntary agencies

Strong organisational, administrative and report writing skills.

Ability to work as part of a team.

Demonstrate evidence of computer skills including use of Microsoft Office, e-mail and social media.

Please apply with a CV and cover letter, to arrive no later than 1pm on 16 June 2017 explaining how you meet the terms of the role to: